Supporters’ Open Day – August 24th
Plans are shaping up nicely for our Supporters’ Open Day which will be held at Farr Hall, and the surrounding area on 24th August. We hope you will be able to join us!
The idea of the day is that there will be an (optional) activity morning followed by the opportunity to meet and talk to other supporters and recipients, over tea or coffee, learn more about the Trust and put forward any thoughts and ideas you may have. We will have presentations by two or three recipients, and there will be an opportunity to talk to these and other recipients about their grants. The day will end with a barbeque.
This is not a fundraising event, however there will be an opportunity to spend a little cash, in aid of the Trust, with items for sale, and a raffle. We have a new selection of cards, and lots of “Ted in the bed’s” for the younger members, and of course all donations will be welcome!
The cost of the event is kindly supported by William Fraser Haulage, Gorthleck and we would also like to thank the volunteer leaders for the activities, and anyone else prepared to help on the day.
TIMETABLE
Morning Activities – meet at Farr Hall: walking (11.30am), cycling (12.30), bouldering and/or climbing (11am) Polish Stonoga (centipede): meet in School Woods, Farr (12.30pm) for a short walk. This is for children of all ages and we are hoping it will be led by the Polish cub scouts we supported last summer. We do, of course, have our own Kirkcudbright Centipede and she may also put in an appearance. Fancy dress (any or none), musicians, singers and dancers all welcome!
Afternoon: 2pm Arrival at the hall for teas/coffee/soft drinks & arrival of Stonoga followed by presentations & discussions (approx. 2.45pm)
Evening: 4.30/5pm – 6.30pm Barbeque.
INFORMATION
Venue: Farr Community Hall, Inverarnie, near Inverness. IV2 6AX
Cost: Free if you have already donated to the Trust, this year. If not: entry by donation: suggested minimum £2 per person, £5 up to 4 people, £10 for 5+ people.
Who: everyone of any age is welcome. Please bring your friends and families!
What to bring: We would appreciate donations of one or more of the following: cakes, small sandwiches or biscuits to go with the teas and coffees and/or a raffle prize. If you are staying please bring something towards the BBQ (eg. burgers, sausages, salad, rolls etc.) – only enough for you, but for sharing! If you have specific dietary requirements please bring your own food and, if necessary, BBQ. You may also bring beer or wine if you wish.
Communicate: Please let us know who will be coming and which activity you would like to take part in. theneilmackenzietrust@dr.com Bouldering and climbing are being treated as one activity, at this stage, and places will be limited. If there are enough participants and leaders they will be split on the day. The times listed above are probable starting times from the hall, but more information about individual activities will be sent out nearer the time. It is possible that activities may change on the day, due to weather, or other unforeseen reasons.
Please, also, let us know if you are able to help – leading an activity, selling raffle tickets, serving teas/coffees or anything else you can think of!
Grant news
2024 Expeditions
A team from Glasgow University was awarded our Educational Expedition Grant earlier in the year and is currently carrying out scientific research on wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago. We are hoping that they will make it back to join us for our Supporters’ Day. Follow them on Instagram: @uofgtobagoexp
Caroline Sharp has set off on her run from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean along the Pyrenees. https://pyrenean-traverse.b12sites.com/index She is also hoping to raise some money for us along the way! Thank you, Caroline. https://www.gofundme.com/f/raising-money-for-the-neil-mackenzie-trust?attribution_id=sl:adb16c9b-c513- She too, hopes to be with us on 24th August.
Cameron Duffy and two scouts are also off on their adventures in July, Cameron to Borneo and the Scouts to North Carolina. Later in the year a team of four climbers are going to Nepal.
Skills training grants: This year one focus of our grants has beenfor novices with little or no previous experience. In the winter/spring two teenagers from Scotland took part in the SnowCamp Excel programme, which culminated in a week’s skiing in Andorra. https://www.snow-camp.org.uk/
One of them wrote:
“Thank you for funding part of my Andorra trip it was an amazing experience that I won’t forget I’ve made lots of new friends and lots of memories my confidence has improved a lot since I started the excel course with snow-camp. Same with my snowboarding I’ve really improved since I started all this last year and I also got a most improved award in Andorra for my snowboarding. It was also my first time being abroad so it was all very different for me I was a bit nervous for it all but everyone from snow-camp were there to help and I loved every minute of it. Andorra was honestly really good the coach there was very long but it was still really fun making new friends from the Manchester group. The hotel was also good. Me and one of my friends tried a snail wouldn’t recommend though.
After we got back from Andorra I decided I was going to go for the apprenticeship which I got with 2 other people from my excel group this year. Hopefully with the apprenticeship I’ll gain even more confident. So just wanted to say thank you for the funding it was an amazing experience that I won’t forget ever and it was lovely seeing yous at cairngorms mountain”
We have two recipients taking Discovery courses at Glenmore Lodge in July. https://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/discover-summer-adventures/ Connie Rotchford is going for Discover Rock Climbing and Jamie Copeland, Discover Navigation & Mountain Navigation.
Short update on the Walk around the World
We, and our fellow walkers, runners, cyclists, etc. have circumnavigated the northern hemisphere, virtually, and travelled south to Cape Town. From there we are well on our way to Australia and New Zealand! Angus and Margaret had walked 1,097 miles, by 30th June over half their target of 2024 miles in the year. However the target for fundraising is £2024 and we are not yet half way there (£781) Can you help? https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-us-in-our-walk-around-the-world?qid=f7ce2015d4383ce3818927283a3a019e
The Neil Mackenzie Trust 